Tag: Tommy Townsend

Chiefs ST coach Dave Toub commends Tommy Townsend for AFC Player of the Month award

#Chiefs ST coach Dave Toub commended Tommy Townsend and the entire punt coverage unit for Townsend’s AFC Special Teams Player of the Month win. | from @TheJohnDillon

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbwa53mtds520q2 player_id=none image=https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

It seems that every phase of the Kansas City Chiefs team hit its stride at the same time in recent weeks. Even punter Tommy Townsend ended up receiving a major accolade, winning the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month Award for November after all his efforts in pinning opponents deep when the Chiefs offense stalled.

Dave Toub, one of the most respected members of the NFL’s special teams community, gave high praise to the second-year punter in his Thursday press conference. Toub was clearly over the moon about the honor bestowed on Townsend, saying that what he accomplished last month was among the most impressive feats he has ever witnessed.

“Really great, really, really, great news this morning hearing that,” He said. “Well deserved, I mean when you go back and look at the month that he had, it’s by far the best performance by a punter that I’ve ever had as a coach. It was really, really good numbers, and it was good to see him do it week after week. He had a really good week and then he followed it up with three more weeks so very proud of him and the unit.”

As impressive as Townsend’s leg has been, the veteran coordinator knows that winning the field position battle is a group effort, and commended the gunners in punt coverage for maximizing every opportunity they were given.

“The gunners have played excellent for him,” Toub explained, “(Chris) Lammons and (Marcus) Kemp are doing a great job covering kicks. Sometimes they’re not perfect kicks, but they go down there and make a great play for him and keep his net up so it’s a team effort. Tommy would be the first one to tell you that.”

Townsend definitely benefitted from the play of all other members of the special teams unit. Six of his 10 total punts in November landed inside and were downed within the 20-yard line. He averaged a whopping 54.9 yards per punt with a 50.7 net yards per punt, with a booming long of 68 yards en route to the monthly award. He also had the fake punt against the Raiders, resulting in a 16-yard reception by Marcus Kemp.

While fans certainly hope his role is limited moving forward, Townsend’s ability to help Kansas City in a multitude of ways will only serve to help them win games moving forward. His Player of the Month recognition is a sign that the NFL has officially taken notice of his unique skillset from one of the most underrated positions in the game of football.

[listicle id=111549]

Chiefs P Tommy Townsend earns AFC Special Teams Player of the Month honors

Tommy Townsend is the latest #Chiefs player to take home a monthly award, earning AFC Special Team Player of the Month honors for November.

Kansas City Chiefs second-year punter Tommy Townsend is off to a stellar beginning to his 2021 NFL season.

His Super Bowl LV performance was shaky at best, but he’s learned from that experience and built on it this season in Kansas City. With 26 punts on the year in 11 games played, he’s averaging 48.6 yards per punt.

During the month of November, Townsend had perhaps his best month of professional football yet. For that reason, the NFL named him AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November. In the past month, Townsend punted 10 times, averaging 54.9 yards per punt and 50.7 net, with six of those punts landing inside the 20 and a long punt of 68 yards.

Townsend also completed a 16-yard pass against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 10. It was his second career pass completion on a fake punt in as many years. His passing ability has quickly become a strong suit of his game, and teams are going to have to account for it moving forward.

This Special Teams Player of the Month award is special for Townsend and his team. It’s not only the first for Townsend, but he is now the first Chiefs punter to ever earn the award during his career. He also becomes the first punter from his alma mater, the University of Tennessee, to earn this honor.

Townsend joins rookie LB Nick Bolton as the second Chiefs player to take home a monthly award this season. He was named Defensive Rookie of the Month for October.

[listicle id=111496]

Chiefs P Tommy Townsend earns AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors

#Chiefs P Tommy Townsend has won his second career weekly award for his performance against the #Packers in Week 9.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbwa53mtds520q2 player_id=none image=https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Kansas City Chiefs P Tommy Townsend has been named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his Week 9 performance against the Green Bay Packers.

Townsend’s day played a big part in the Chiefs’ 13-7 win over the Packers, with five of his six punts landing inside the 20-yard line. He ended the game with an average of 56.8 yards per punt and with a long of 64 yards.
His 54.3 net punting average on five punts was the highest by a player since 2018.

Townsend was humble about his performance after the game, crediting his teammates on the punt unit for their part of the success.

“Today was just one of those career days where you go out and you just have a great day,” Townsend told reporters after the game. “Of course, none of that would have happened without my gunners on the punt team to get down there and down the ball, scoop up punts. Of course, it’s a huge team effort, I can’t pat those guys on the back enough.”

This marks the second career Special Teams Player of the Week award for Townsend, but his first of the season. He had big shoes to fill when Dustin Colquitt was released, but he has already achieved something that Colquitt never did during his time with the Chiefs. Townsend is the first punter for Kansas City to ever earn the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week twice.

Townsend also will become the second former Florida Gator to win Special Teams Player of the Week this season, joining Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson, who earned the honor in Week 1.

[listicle id=109870]

Chiefs P Tommy Townsend ready to put Super Bowl LV struggles behind him

#Chiefs P Tommy Townsend has learned from his struggles in Super Bowl LV and is looking to turn the page heading into the 2021 NFL season. | from @TheJohnDillon

Special teams has been a net-positive for Kansas City since Andy Reid brought coordinator Dave Toub with him to the Chiefs in 2013.

While some of the names and faces have changed since their tenure began, the team’s commitment to winning in that crucial phase of the game has continued unhindered, and the current lineup of special-teamers has remained the same since 2017, with only one exception.

When longtime punter Dustin Colquitt was released by Kansas City in 2019, the Chiefs had a glaring hole at the position he had filled since the team drafted him in 2005. Colquitt had long been a fan-favorite, especially given his major contributions in less successful seasons in the aughts, plus Pro Bowl selections in 2012 and 2016. Punting has by no means been the mode for this Chiefs team of late, but minimizing crucial yardage conceded in the field position battle remains a focus for Kansas City.

Second-year punter Tommy Townsend found himself in a desirable position, filling the shoes of a beloved Chief while only being needed in a minimal role. With a full offseason in 2021, Townsend has never felt more comfortable as a professional.

“I already feel 10 times more comfortable now than I did going into the season last year,” Townsend told reporters on Friday. “Last year, we were just straight into training camp. As you know, and me, James [Winchester] and Harrison [Butker] got work in during last offseason, and we did the same here, but we also had OTA’s and minicamp to really tune-up with the team before going into camp.”

Kansas City needed only minimal contributions from Townsend as a rookie. He punted just 52 times over the course of the season, the ninth-lowest rate in the league. He made the most of his opportunities in 2020, averaging just over 40 yards per punt, and pinning opponents behind the 20-yard line 20 times. Unfortunately, when the team did need him to show up last season, he put up his worst performance. Townsend struggled in Super Bowl LV, averaging just 29 net yards per punt.

“Obviously, that’s not the way you want to end the season, end your rookie campaign, or even have a game like that,” Thompson said at Friday’s press conference, “But you’ve just got to learn from it, move on.”

“All I can do is get better,” he continued, “Conor McGregor actually put out a quote a couple of years ago and it was kind of about losing in defeat. He said, ‘It’s not the losses that ruin careers, it’s the wins and getting complacent.’ It’s when you lose, you’ve got to look back and learn from it and move on.”

Townsend clearly understands the stakes heading into this season. Expect him to minimize any kind of complacency that could hold Kansas City back. As the Chiefs prepare for their first preseason game next week, the young punter will be a player to watch, and his continued development could give the defense an added edge in terms of field position on game day.

[listicle id=95988]

Former Gator Tommy Townsend chokes in second quarter of Super Bowl LV

The Kansas City Chiefs’ are having a rough go in Super Bowl LV and their punter, a former Florida Gator, isn’t making things any easier.

The defending world champion Kansas City Chiefs have two prominent former Gators on their roster, including punter Tommy Townsend. Townsend signed with KC as an undrafted free agent after an outstanding career wearing the orange and blue. On the whole, his rookie season was an excellent start to his pro career, but performance in Super Bowl LV has been one to forget.

The game got off to an unlucky start, as his first punt would have pinned the Bucs down on the goal line if it hadn’t taken an oddly sharp forward bounce. As they say, there’s no rest for the wicked, and the Chiefs’ faltering offense has necessitated a heavy workload for Townsend in the first half.

Things really went off the rails for the Florida alum in the second quarter of Super Bowl LV. He had a punt called back after bombing it over 50 yards downfield after video replay revealed he had dropped it prior to the punt. On the subsequent try, he struck the football with the side of his foot, giving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers excellent field position.

In other words, we can officially proclaim the idea that Tommy Townsend could be the Kansas City Chiefs’ secret weapon dead at the scene.

[lawrence-related id=35120,35074,35070,32078,34968]

[listicle id=34933]

[vertical-gallery id=34595]

[vertical-gallery id=35073]

This former Gator could be a secret weapon in Super Bowl LV

The Chiefs signed former UF punter Tommy Townsend before the season, and he thrived. Why not have another big game in the Super Bowl?

The former Florida Gators most likely to catch headlines in Super Bowl LV is Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, who has steadily been a good secondary option in the famed Kansas City passing attack. There was a chance that Robinson would be unable to play, but was ruled eligible on game day after a close-contact COVID scare. However, he’s not the only player to come out of the Swamp who could make an impact on this game.

Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend, once a Florida Gator, could stealthily make a real difference for the reigning world champions as they defend their title. That’s what Gatorsports’ David Whitley argued in a recent article after interviewing Townsend and a few of his relatives.

“Tommy Townsend might not be named MVP, but it’s a good bet this is one Super Bowl where the punter will not be overlooked,” wrote Whitley.

Sure, punters may not have the sexiest job in the world. However, although the piece was written in a half-joking tone, his point is a good one. The Chiefs and their challengers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, are obviously both very good football teams. This is the championship, after all. Every advantage possible makes a difference, including field position.

The Bucs’ selling point is their oppressive defense, but with Tom Brady at the helm and a deep core of pass-catchers, they have a roster that excels in most areas of the game. The Chiefs’ defensive unit is nothing to sneeze at, but their gameday plan is clearly driven by the offense. That being the case, every yard of field position to make the defensive squad’s job easier will be a boon to Kansas City’s chances.

That’s where Townsend comes in. The rookie was one of football’s best punters in 2020 after signing as a free agent with KC. He has in his hands (his foot? leg?) the ability to put up another obstacle in front of Tom Brady and force Tampa Bay to earn every score.

If don’t buy that a punter can be that impactful, fine. There’s a reason many punters are fairly anonymous. Either way, it’ll be fun to root for our boys in the biggest game of the year. “We bleed orange and blue,” said Townsend’s older brother to Whitley. There’s something we can all agree on.

[lawrence-related id=35074,35070,32078,34968,34923]

[listicle id=34933]

[vertical-gallery id=35073]

This pair of former Gators are look for rings in Super Bowl LV

Punter Tommy Townsend and receiver/returner Demarcus Robinson look to win rings for the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV.

NFL Championship weekend is in the books, and the Super Bowl LV matchup is set: The Kansas City Chiefs, led by young superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, will take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady, who they added this offseason.

The defending champion Chiefs will look to reclaim their World Championship title for the second year in a row, and as they do, a pair of former Gators will be vying for rings: receiver Demarcus Robinson and punter Tommy Townsend.

Robinson already won the Super Bowl with Kansas City last year, but Townsend, a rookie, looks to capture his first.

The Chiefs selected Robinson in the fourth round in 2016, and since then, he’s been a fixture of this receiving corps. This season, he had 45 catches for 466 yards and three touchdowns.

Townsend joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent this past offseason, and though he wasn’t punting at the beginning of the year, he has since assumed the starting role. He has 50 punts on the season for an average of 45.1 yards.

The two former Gators will try to lead their team to a Super Bowl title in Tampa on Feb. 7.

[lawrence-related id=33950,33925,33919,33784,33776]

[listicle id=33848]

[vertical-gallery id=32378]

Chiefs CB L’Jarius Sneed, P Tommy Townsend named to PFWA All-Rookie Team

Two Kansas City Chiefs rookies are among the 27 players named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

The Pro Football Writers of America have announced their annual All-Rookie team. Two rookies of the Kansas City Chiefs have been recognized among the best at their position in their introductory NFL seasons. The Chiefs were among six other teams to also have two rookies selected to the team.

Chiefs fourth-round draft pick L’Jarius Sneed was one of the two players recognized at his position along with Minnesota Vikings CB Cameron Dantzler. Sneed burst onto the scene early in his career filling in for suspended veteran Bashaud Breeland. By Week 2, Sneed was the NFL’s interception leader. He’d see his first helping of NFL adversity in Week 3 when he suffered a fractured collarbone.

Sneed wouldn’t return until Week 11 and when he returned he was playing an entirely different position, operating as the team’s nickel corner. He met the challenge head-on and continues to impress at the position. Sneed finished the regular season with nine games played and six starts, recording 41 total tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, seven passes defended and three interceptions. He’s already recorded a sack in the Chiefs’ postseason campaign.

Undrafted free agent Tommy Townsend, the other Chiefs rookie recognized, secured the only space for a punter on the All-Rookie team. He had big shoes to fill when he signed in Kansas City, replacing 15-year veteran punter Dustin Colquitt. He’s attacked that challenge and proven to be one of the top young punters in the game.

Townsend has done about as good of a job as you could possibly ask for from a rookie. He finished the year with 52 punts for a total of 2,339 yards, averaging 45 yards per punt with a long punt of 69 yards. He also completed a 13-yard pass attempt on a fake punt against the New York Jets in Week 8. He didn’t have a punt in the AFC divisional round of the playoffs, but signs only point to more success for the rookie from here on out.

[vertical-gallery id=85949]

Chiefs P Tommy Townsend earns AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors

Townsend wins his first weekly award in the NFL.

Kansas City Chiefs rookie punter Tommy Townsend is being recognized with weekly honors for the first time in his NFL career.

Townsend was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after a massive performance against the New Orleans Saints in Week 15. He pinned the Drew Brees and the Saints offense back inside the 20 three times during the game. In total, he had six punts for 243 yards with a long punt of 61. He also had a dropkick for 57 yards when the Saints forced a safety on Demarcus Robinson.

Punters don’t often get recognized for this award. Townsend is the first punter to earn the award since Week 2 of the 2019 season, back when Browns P Jamie Gillan was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Chiefs special teams coordinator said Townsend was given the highest possible grade by the coaching staff coming out of the 2020 NFL Draft and he’s lived up to that reputation. The rookie has amassed 46 punts for 2,092 yards for a net average of 45.5 yards per punt. He also has completed one pass for 13 yards on a trick play.

Townsend is now the third different member of the Chiefs this season to earn AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors, joining Byron Pringle (Week 7) and Harrison Butker (Week 2). They’re the only team to have three players earn special teams weekly honors this season, a testament to Toub and the coaching staff.

[listicle id=83784]

Chiefs’ Dave Toub expects Tommy Townsend to bounce back after his ‘worst game’

Townsend didn’t have a good game against the Buccaneers in Week 12.

Kansas City Chiefs rookie punter Tommy Townsend has been rock solid this season. Expectations were high when he was brought on to replace 15-year veteran Dustin Colquitt and he hasn’t disappointed. Yet, in Week 12 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Townsend didn’t have a good game.

He recorded his second-lowest yards per punt average of his professional career. He had one punt returned, though, only for two yards. The worst thing was that he was surrendering good field position to Tom Brady when he had a chance to pin them back deep.

Chiefs ST coordinator Dave Toub didn’t hold his tongue when talking about his rookie punter on Thursday. He called this the worst game of Townsend’s career and expects him to do better moving forward.

“Tommy was off to a really, really good start,” Toub said. “He probably had — he’s coming off his worst game last week. We had four punts. They were effective punts, but not great punts. [Do] you know what I mean? They hit the ground, rolled, really good for us. But at the end of the day, a little bit better, we need better punts there. He’s coming off his worst game, I’m looking for him to bounce back this week. He had a couple of pooch punts that the angle was a wrong angle, too much of angle. It seemed like we were trying to kick it away from Antonio Brown, but we really weren’t. We were just trying to get it down there in the corner of the field. So those things we need to work on. He’ll bounce back this week and have a good week.”

On the season thus far, Townsend has 33 total punts with 17 of those landing inside of the 20-yard line. His long punt is 67 yards and According to PFF, only 27.3% of his punts have been deemed returnable. Toub doesn’t believe this has anything to do with Townsend hitting the dreaded “rookie wall.”

“I find that hard to believe with him,” Toub said. “Basically because we don’t punt that much. It’s not like we’re out there hitting a lot of punts. 2-4 punts a game, I mean, I don’t think that’s an issue really. It could happen, but I don’t think that’s something that we’d even talk about really.”

Townsend is due for a bounceback game against the Broncos in Week 13. Back in Week 7, when the Chiefs first faced Denver, Townsend had three punts totaling 133 yards. One punt was returned for no yards during that game. He won’t have the favor of working with the tin Denver air, but he will have the comfort of playing in front of a home crowd.

[listicle id=81737]